The effective design of self-collection networks in last-mile delivery: evidence from the Italian case

The growing diffusion of e-commerce has produced a striking increase in business-to-consumer (B2C) parcel volumes, prompting logistic providers to reorganise delivery operations to reduce costs and ensure efficient service for users. In this context, this paper proposes strategies to redefine last-mile self-collection networks in urban areas by explicitly and simultaneously accounting for economic costs and users’ accessibility. Specifically, starting from a real case of the leading Italian logistic provider, this study uses spatial analysis to evaluate users’ accessibility to the self-collection network and proposes three strategies for contracting, reorganising, or expanding the network. To this end, tailored facility location models are used to identify the optimal network configuration to ensure certain accessibility levels to potential users. Empirical findings obtained using a real-world dataset from the leading Italian logistic provider showcase the value of informed decision-making by assessing the economic and social dimensions involved in the last-mile delivery context.